Massaging apparatus



y 1932. P. J. FITZGERALES 1,858,922

' .MASSAGING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 7, 1929 I s Sheets-Sheet 1 May 17, 1932. P J. FITZGERALD MASSAGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 17, 1932. I P. J. FITZGERALD 1,358,922

MASSAGING APPARATU File Oct. 7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 17, 1932 warren PATRICK J. FITZGERALD, 0F TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOE TO THE FITZ- GERALD IKANUFAGTURING COMPANY, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- TION 0F CGNNECTICUT MASSAGING APPARATUS Application filed October 7, 1929. Serial No. 397,995.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a massaging apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus wherein the applicator is vibrated in the direction of its length for massaging the body.

in object of the invention is to provide a massaging apparatus of the above type which is so constructed that the weight of the individual being massaged may be efii cieutly utilized for maintaining the machine in a set position during the operation thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above type having a supportattached to the frame of the appara tus on which the individual being massaged stands, which support is provided with means whereby the weight of theindividual operates to rigidly hold the support relative to the frame and the entire apparatus in a set )osition durin the o eration thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a massaging apparatus of the above type wherein the actuated members for imparting movement to the applicator are vibrated positively by an eccentric and eccentric strap connection with an actuating shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above type wherein the actuating shaft is operated by a motor and wherein the motor is supported so that it may be positively shifted relative to the actuating shaft and held rigidly in its various set positions.-

These and other objects will in part be ob vious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention z- Figure 1 is a side view of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of the table at the upper end of the supporting frame and the mechanism supported thereby.

Fig. 3 is a rear View of the upper portion of the machine. I

Fig. 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view partly in sec- 7 connection from the motor.

. pendent vibrating arms.

tion and partly in. side elevation showing the supporting frame and the manner of rigidly securing the support for the individual being massaged to said frame.

Fig. 6 is a detail partly in plan and partly in section showing a portion of the support and the hinged connection to the frame there- I01.

Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective showing on a small scale a portion of an applicator.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a massaging apparatus which includes devices for. imparting an endwise vibratory movement to an applicator. The invention includes a suitable supporting frame having a table topat the upper end thereof. Mounted on this table top is a motor and an actuating shaft. The actuating shaft is driven by a suitable belt The motor is mounted so that it may be moved horizontally on the table relative to the actuating shaft for tightening the belt. Positive means is provided for shifting the motor and for holding it in set position.

The actuating shaft is provided with two separate eccentrics. Mounted on the frame carrying the actuating shaft are two inde- There is an eccentric strap cooperating with one of these eccentrics and connected with one of the arms for vibrating the same, and an eccentric strap cooperating with the other eccentric and connected to the other arm for vibrating the same. Thus it is that the arms are positively vibrated by the rotating of the actuating shaft. These arms carry buttons or projections set at different radial distances from the pivotal axis of the arms to which the applicator is attached. Hingedly connected to the supporting frame adjacent the bottom thereof is a support for the individual being massaged. This support .when the apparatus is out of use may be swung to a vertical position and held therein by a suitable yielding latch. The support may be swung to a position so that the outer end thereof rests on the floor. There is a brace hinged to thesupport intermediate its ends and this brace is adapted to engage beneath a projecting ledge on the frame.

In order to place the brace under the ledge the front legs of the frame must be lifted from the floor. Thus it is that the weight of the machine will bear on the brace and part of the weight of the machine will be carried by the outer end of the support resting on the floor. The individual being massaged stepping on this support will further hold the support and the frame in a firm gripping engagement with the floor so that when the apparatus is actuated the frame will remain in a fixed set position.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the apparatus as shown includes a supporting frame consisting of four legs 1, 1 carry ing a table 2 at the upper end thereof. This table is firmly secured to the supporting legs. Cross braces .3 may be provided for connecting the legs, or other means may be provided for connecting the legs and enclosing the space beneath the table, if desired. These supporting legs are preferably made of angle iron.

Mounted on the supporting table 2 is a supporting base casting 4, which is secured to the table in any suitable way. This base casting is provided with a bracket 5. An actuating shaft 6 is mounted in suitable bearings in this bracket 5. The bracket has two spaced vertical extending members 7, 7 The actuating shaft extends through these members 7, 7 An arm 8 is mounted on a sup porting stud 9 which is rigidly carried by the members 7. Mounted on the shaft 6 is an eccentric 10 for vibrating the arm 8. Cooperating with said eccentric is an eccentric strap 11. This eccentric strap 11 has a forked end which straddles the lower end of the arm 8. The arm 8 depends beneath the pivotal support 9 and is secured to this forked end of the eccentric strap by a wrist pin 12. Thus it is that when the shaft 6 is rotated the eccentric 10 will vibrate the arm 8 positively and by connections therewith which are very strong and durable.

At the other side of the bracket 7 is an arm 80 which is pivoted to the bracket and operated by an eccentric on the main actuating shaft similar to the eccentric 10 and the eccentric strap 11 cooperating therewith. These eccentrics are set with their centers 180 degrees apart as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 so that when the arm 8 is moved in one direction the arm 80!. is moved in the opposite direction. The arm 8 is provided with a series of buttons or lugs of any suitable character, indicated at 13. The arm 8a is provided with a series of similar buttons or lugs 13a. The applicator is attached to one of the lugs on the arm 8 and to the corresponding lug on the arm 8a. When these arms are vibrated the applicator is moved in an endwise direction and may be utilized for massaging the body. The applicator is indicated more or less diagrammatically in Fig. 7 of the drawings at A. This applicator ineludes end portions having eyes and slots a, a adapted to be placed over the lugs or but- 9 over the belt wheels 14 and 16 imparts the rotations of the motor to the actuating shaft. It will be understood, of course, that other means than a belt may be used for imparting motions to the actuating shaft. When a belt is used it is desirable to mount the motor on the base casting so that it may be moved toward and from the actuating shaft by putting the belt under tension. The base casting is preferably provided with overhanging ledges 18, 18 and the base carrying the motor is so shaped as to extend beneath these ledges. Thus it is that the motor may be moved horizontally and held from vertical movement by these supporting ledges 18.

Threaded into the bracket 5 is a rod 19 which is provided with a rounded head 20.

Adjacent the head 20 and fixed to the rod is a member 21 which may be grasped by the operator for turning the rod. When the rod is turned the head 20 may be brought firmly against the motor and will prevent the motor from moving toward the actuating shaft. A look nut 22 is provided for holding the rod in set position.

In this machine the motor vibrates the arms 8 and 8a very rapidly. This necessarily tends to move or loosen the parts associated therewith. The motor, however, is held from vertical movement by the overhanging lodges and it is held from horizontal movement toward the shaft by the rod just described. 1

The belt, of course, prevents the motor from moving in the opposite direction and thus it is that the motor is held very rigidly in set position for operating the actuating shaft.

As shown in the drawings, the motor is controlled by a hand switch 28 which may be of any suitable character. This hand switch may be otherwise placed than in the line and forms no part of the present invention.

In order that the parts may be thoroughly lubricated, I have provided a casing 2 1 which completely houses the eccentric operating the vibrating arm 8. This casing is attached to the member 7 of the bracket 5 which is adjacent the arm 8. It is attached by suitable screws and a packing may be provided so as to make a very tight joint, and this casing may be provided with a heavy lubricant so that the actuating parts are thoroughly lubricated. The casing has an opening through which the vibrating arm extends and moves, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. There is a similar casing 24a for the eccentric actuating the vibrating arm 8a. The belt and belt wheels are preferably enclosed within the casing 26 which may be of any desired character.

Attached to the frame 1 and carrying the operating parts of the apparatus is a supporting platform 27. Said platform is secured by a hinge 28 to an angle member 29 which is firmly secured to the frame of the machine. This supporting platform may be moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 when the apparatus is out of use and when so positioned it will be held therein by means of a yielding latch 30. Attached to the platform is a U-shaped angle iron bracket 31. The ends of the U-shaped bracket are pivoted at 32 to lugs 33 carried by the supporting platform 27. Mounted on the frame is an angle bar 34 which is rigidly secured to the frame. This angle bar is so positioned that when the supporting platform is moved to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 so as to engage the floor at the outer end thereof, said bracket 31 may be placed underneath the angle bar 34. In order to do this, however, the front legs of the frame must be raised from the floor. As a result the weight of the apparatus tending to force the front legs toward the floor will cause the angle bar 34 to engage the bracket 31 and thus the supporting platform will be very rigidly connected to the support ing frame. The individual being massaged stands on this supporting platform during the operation and the weight of the individual, therefore, tends to force the front legs down into contact with the floor. The apparatus is supported on the rear legs and the front end of the supporting platform, and thus it is that the weight of the individual being massaged is added to the weight of the parts of the apparatus for holding said apparatus in fixed position. Furthermore, inasmuch as little or no weight of the apparatus is carried by the front legs the weight of the apparatus and the individual tending to move the rear legs away from the extreme front supporting part of the platform brings about a very firm gripping engagement between the legs, the platform and the floor. It is understood, of course, that during massaging the arms vibrate very rapidly and this tends to produce a vibration in the entire apparatus which if not well anchored would cause said apparatus to move or creep over the floor. By my arrangement the platform and brace where the gripping points on the floor are widely separated and the weight of the individual being messaged is used in addition to the weight of the apparatus for holding the machine in a fixed position, little or no creeping occurs.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A massaging apparatus including in combination a motor, vibrating arms actuated thereby forimparting movement to an applicator, a frame for supporting said motor and parts actuated thereby, a supporting platform attached to the frame for the inclividual using the applicator, a bracket at tached to the supporting platform and adapted to engage the frame, said bracket being so proportioned as to hold the front of the frame raised from the fioor so that the combined weight of the apparatus and the inclividual standing on the platform may be utilized for maintaining said apparatus in fixed position during the operation thereof.

2. A massaging apparatus including in combination a motor, vibrating arms actuated thereby for imparting movement to an applicator, a frame for supporting said motor and parts actuated thereby, a supporting platform attached to the frame for the individual using the applicator, a bracket pivotally connected to the supporting platform intermediate the ends thereof, an angle bar attached to the frame underneath which said bracket may be placed when the supporting platform is in position for supporting the individual, said bracket and angle bar being so ositioned that when the bracket is placed eneath the angle bar the front portion of the frame is raised slightly from the floor whereby the combined weight of the appara tus and the individual being massaged may be utilized for maintaining the apparatus in fixed position during the operation thereof.

3. A massaging apparatus including in combination a motor, an actuating shaft operated thereby, vibrating arms for imparting movement to an applicator, devices carried by the actuating shaft for operating said arms, aframe for supporting said motor and the parts actuated thereby, a supporting platform hinged to said frame adjacent the lower portion thereof, a bracket hinged to the platform and adapted to engage beneath a projecting angle bar on the frame when said supporting platform is in operative position, and a yielding latch for holding said supporting platform in inoperative position adjacent said frame said bracket being so proportioned as to hold the front of the frame raised from the floor so that the combined weight of the apparatus and the individual standing on the platform may be utilized for maintaining said apparatus in fixed position during the operation thereof.

4. A massaging apparatus including in combination a supporting frame, a base casting mounted thereon, a motor carried by said casting, a bracket supported by said casting, an actuating shaft mounted in said bracket, means for operating said shaft from said motor, vibrating arms pivoted to said bracket for imparting movement to an applicator, an eccentric on said shaft adjacent each arm, an eccentric strap cooperating with each eccentric and connected to the respective arms for vibrating the same, said eccentric strap having a forked end to engage the lower end of the arm with which it is associated, and casings carried by the bracket for housing the respective eccentrics, eccentric straps and the connections thereof to the vibrating arms. 5. A massaging apparatus including in combination a supporting frame, a base casting carried thereby, a motor mounted on said base casting whereby the same may be moved horizontally, a bracket carried by the casting, an actuating shaft mounted in said bracket, vibrating arms carried by said bracket for imparting movement to an applicator, means actuated by said shaft for vibrating 25 said arms, a belt for connecting said motor to said actuating shaft, and means connected by said bracket and engaging said motor for holding said motor in a set position relative to said bracket. 30 In testimony whereof, I aifiX my signature.

PATRICK J. FITZGERALD. 

